I can see what Gary was going for, but adding class levels together doesn’t work unless all classes are using a unified XP structure (as in D&D 5E). A 4th-level rogue / 4th-level fighter in C&C (18,504 XP per the above rules) is not equal to an 8th-level character.

I tweaked my rules slightly by including a crazy corner-case example of breaking the system.

Here’s a new magic item my PCs found that I thought I’d share:

Vestment of Steel: This unassuming white cloth robe endows the wearer with a permanent magic vestment spell, conjuring a translucent suit of chain mail around him (AC 5, DR 1). The robe weighs but two pounds and does not impinge the wearer’s movement, though it rattles like ghostly chains whenever he moves. Thieves et al suffer a −4 penalty on attempts to hide, move silently, or pick pockets when so garbed; the referee might impose other penalties at his discretion. The vestment of steel cannot be “stacked” with other armour—the better AC prevails—though the wearer can bear a shield or enjoy other forms of magical protection. XP Value = 1,000; GP Value = 10,000.

A delicate topic, I understand, but one that I think fits the sword & sorcery oeuvre well. Given that they’re a dying race incompatible with other humans, would it be much of a stretch to posit that incestuous relations betwixt Hyperborean siblings are not uncommon? (I’m looking at you, Cersei and Jaime.)

I would say the backstab bonus applies only to the first of multiple attacks.

What I ended up going with was increasing skittishness in the rat familiar. When the magician first arrived at The Silvery Eel, the rat seemed a little agitated. Its anxiety became more pronounced as the party delved deeper. When they finally confronted the gnagana, the familiar failed a morale check and fled, depriving the magician of its bonus hit points. It did eventually return after the gnagana had been destroyed, because I didn’t want to screw a 1st-level PC too badly.

Here are a pair I whipped up a couple of years ago. Too, the formless spawn of Xathoqqua (included as a new monster in The Late Trapper’s Lament) are thought to originate from Saturn.

Ah, OK! The rebus principle does open up many more options. (I’d been thinking about American sign language, wherein English words without corresponding signs—like names—simply can be spelled out, but that technique only works when you have a phonographic alphabet to begin with.) Perhaps the name Xarthanos could be represented by the logograms for “donkey” and “immortal”. (Yes, he is literally an undying ass.)

Most cultures in Hyperborea use writing systems based on phonograms; each character represents a sound. Contrarily, the Ixians and subterranean Kimmerians of Krimmea use writing systems based on logograms; each character represents a word. How robust would these written languages be? Consider, for instance, the following player handout from Ghost Ship of the Desert Dunes (spoilers if you haven’t played it):


“My most puissant master, contained in this small bundle you will find the three magical devices you require. Know that Xarthanos is a distracted man; I believe he is unaware of you, his so-called ‘engineer’. However, the winged simian has a nose for those who would betray his master, so beware the brute. Once you have commandeered the skyship, I beg of you, please take me with you to Scythium, where I will ever serve you as loyal apprentice. Praise be the Lord of Serpents!”


If I were the Ixian author trying to commit this florid message to papyrus using logograms, could I possibly convey the full nuance, or would it read more like a telegram? “Master. Contained in small bundle you find three magic items you require...” and so on.

Thanks for the kind words, Caveman!

Blackadder23 wrote:

I would point out a couple of things. Firstly, Kthulhu isn't really a marine entity or sea god either. The text says he is associated with "sorcery, necromancy, deviltry, witchcræft, nightmares, madness, exhilaration, destruction, and havoc". Nothing particularly oceanic there. He is currently trapped beneath the sea, and he has marine servants due to his influence being concentrated there, but these associations with oceanic matters are just an accident of the current moment. The idea that Kthulhu is some kind of water elemental originated with Derleth's cockeyed pseudo-Catholic reinterpretation of the Lovecraftian mythos, His true environment, once freed, is the dark between the stars.

Secondly, the associations of Kraken are interesting: "extra-planar travel, outré dimensions, cosmic hunger, energy absorption, human sacrifice, time travel, illusion, duality, and reincarnation". One of these is especially interesting - why "duality" in particular? Now it's well known that Kthulhu exists in more than one dimension, which renders him impervious to physical destruction in our dimension (as memorably portrayed in "The Call of Cthulhu"). What if Kraken is that extradimensional manifestation of Kthulhu? That is to say, what if the two squid gods are simply two faces of the same Janus-like entity?  Kthulhu could even be seen as the "body" of this ultramundane entity, currently imprisoned beneath the sea, while Kraken is the "soul", currently locked away in another dimension. Could they ever reunite:? Do they even want to reunite? Interesting questions to contemplate in the dark...

Or maybe there really are just two somewhat similar squid gods. That's cool too.

Your post reminds me of a Cthulhu Now! adventure, “Dreams Dark and Deadly” (which I no longer own), that distinguishes betwixt the chorazin and eidolon of Cthulhu.